An object almost on Earth recently classified as asteroid was identified as Tesla Roadster of Elon Musk, which was launched in space in 2018 aboard a SPACEX FALCON Heavy rocket. The object was mistakenly listed as a new asteroid near the Earth by the International Astronomical Union (MPC) Center’s Minor Planet Center on January 2, before the classification was removed within hours. The error, made by an amateur astronomer in Türkiye using data available to the public, highlights increasing concerns about tracking spatial debris and its impact on astronomical observations.
Identification and retraction error
According to For astronomy.com, the object was initially recorded in the MPC database under the 2018 CN41 designation. The classification was based on historical tracking data, but after a review, the discovery was terminated only 17 hours later. The astronomer who reported the object recognized the error after further analysis.
The Tesla Roadster was launched on February 6, 2018, as a test load for the inaugural flight of Spacex Falcon Heavy. Positioned on the driver’s seat, there was a mannequin called “Starman”, dressed in a prototype costume. The car intended to enter a stable orbit around Mars, but settled in a heliocentric orbit, periodically passing near Earth and Mars.
Implications for Spatial Tracking
Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer of the Harvard-Smithsonian center AstrophysicsLike this, told Astronomy.com that incorrect identification of man -made objects as natural space bodies is becoming more frequent. He warned that these mistakes could lead to significant financial losses, stating that the worst scenario was that a billion dollars was spent launching a spatial investigation to study an asteroid, just to realize that it is not an asteroid when you get there.
Over the years, multiple spacecraft and discarded rockets have been temporarily classified as asteroids. Among them are the Espaçonav Rosetta of the European Space Agency, NASA’s Lucy Prove and the European-Japanese Mission Bepybo. With the growing number of space missions, experts predict that incorrect identifications will become more common.
Lack of regulations in deep space debris
As by ReportsSpatial agencies and private companies are required to track satellites and debris in the orbit of the land. However, no regulatory structure requires tracking objects that went beyond the severity of the earth, such as Tesla Roadster. In a 2024 declarationThe American astronomical society has requested transparency in the tracking of space objects to minimize interference in scientific observations and prevent possible collisions. With the acceleration of spatial exploitation, concerns with orbital debris and poorly identified objects continue to grow, reinforcing the need for stricter monitoring and classification systems.G